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Here’s the latest from Beaver Lake Books, all in one place. Browse book news, Grandpa’s Groaners, Curmudgeon’s Corner, Wednesday Wisdom, and whatever else catches our attention. The newest posts appear first, so pull up a chair and see what’s new..

• What Else Can We Think About
  by Old Curmudgeon
  All day, I carry around a perfectly good mind. It forgets why I entered a room and where I put my glasses. Then I go to bed, and suddenly it becomes a research department. Did I answer that email? Is the back door locked? What ever happened to the fellow who sat beside me in…
• Way Too Early Gift Checklist for Christmas
  by Staff Writer
  Yes, we know. The pumpkins are still on the porch, and somebody in the neighborhood is already testing their Christmas lights. We’re not suggesting you put up the tree this afternoon. But making a little headway on your gift list? That sounds reasonable. Especially if it means fewer December errands and more time to enjoy…
• What Do You Get When You Drop A Pumpkin?
  by R.G. Elliott
  What do you get when you drop a pumpkin? Squash. Pumpkins look sturdy while they are sitting politely on the porch. They survive chilly nights, curious squirrels, and children debating whether the jack-o’-lantern needs two teeth or three. But gravity has the final vote. Drop a pumpkin, and its proud career as seasonal decoration may…
• The First Wealth is Health`
  by A.K. Moore
  Wednesday Wisdom Good health is easy to take for granted when everything is working as expected. When it isn’t, we quickly discover how much of everyday life depends on it. A walk outside. A restful night. Enough energy to enjoy a visit, read a chapter, or do something we love. These ordinary pleasures are worth…
• Don’t Steal
  by Old Curmudgeon
  That’s the sort of line that gets a laugh in April, especially from someone who has just finished gathering receipts from three different drawers. I know taxes pay for things we use. I drive on public roads, rely on the fire department, and appreciate clean drinking water. I’d just like the process of paying for…
• The Books That Keep Us Up at Night
  by R.G. Elliott
  Monday Morning Blog There are two kinds of books that keep us awake: the ones that make us afraid to turn out the light, and the ones that make us forget we were supposed to turn it out an hour ago. With Halloween approaching, scary stories get plenty of attention. But a book doesn’t need…
• Why Are Ghosts Such Bad Liars
  by R.G. Elliott
  Why are ghosts such bad liars? You can see right through them. Ghosts have several advantages. They can drift through walls, appear without knocking, and leave a room without sitting through the rest of a meeting. Unfortunately, deception is not one of their strengths. The moment a ghost tries to bend the truth, everyone can…
• Finish Something Today
  by A.K. Moore
  Starting something is easy. Finishing it is where the distractions tend to show up. There’s another email to answer, another idea to explore, and a cup of coffee that apparently needs our immediate attention. Today’s challenge is simple: choose one thing and finish it. It doesn’t have to be the biggest item on your list….
• Atheism
  by Old Curmudgeon
  That joke has been around long enough to qualify for a pension, but a good pun doesn’t have to be new. It only has to make somebody groan. Some people will laugh. Some will roll their eyes. Somebody will point out the difference between “prophet” and “profit,” just in case the rest of us missed…
• Meet Sarah McMahan, Author of Blue Road Stand
  by Staff Writer
  Some love stories begin with a chance encounter. Blue Road Stand begins with people trying to hold their lives together and discovering what they might build together. Set among the peach orchards of Western Colorado, Blue Road Stand: A Clean Romance of Second Chances brings together Claire and Jack in a story of family responsibilities,…
• What Does A House Wear
  by R.G. Elliott
  Most houses are not known for keeping up with fashion. They may get a fresh coat of paint every few years, new shutters if the budget allows, and perhaps a wreath when the seasons change. But beneath all those accessories, every respectable house wears the same essential item: an address. It is practical, easy to…
• And Still I Rise
  by A.K. Moore
  Some days, getting back up is an accomplishment all by itself. Persistence is often its own reward. Plans fall apart. Disappointments arrive uninvited. Life occasionally hands us a week we would gladly return for a refund. These few words offer a reminder of resilience. Rising doesn’t always look dramatic. Sometimes it means making breakfast, calling…
• It’s Not a Dad Bod
  by Old Curmudgeon
  A father figure takes years to develop. You begin with the occasional slice of birthday cake. Then come the family cookouts, the holiday dinners, and the necessary duty of finishing food nobody wants to put back in the refrigerator. Soon your favorite chair fits you better than your favorite trousers. I could blame the kids,…
• Anywhere Is In Walking Distance
  by A.K. Moore
  here’s a spot on the dock at Beaver Lake where, if you squint, the far shore looks like it’s about a stone’s throw away. It is not. Anyone who has ever tried to skip a rock across that water knows exactly how that experiment ends: with a small plop and a bruised ego. But here’s…
• Born Free
  by Old Curmudgeon
  Born Free. Taxed to Death. We enter this world with nothing but a birthday, a name, and the freedom to make something of ourselves. Then the paperwork begins. Earn some money, and it’s taxed. Spend what’s left, and it’s taxed again. Own a house, drive a car, fill the gas tank, or leave something to…
• I’m Not Lazy!
  by Old Curmudgeon
  I’m not lazy. I’m permanently on energy-saving mode. At a certain age, you learn that energy is a valuable resource and should not be squandered on unnecessary activity. Young people may call this laziness. I call it responsible energy management. Before I get out of my chair, I conduct a brief cost-benefit analysis. Is the…
• Blue Road Stand: A Clean Romance of Second Chances
  by Staff Writer
  What’s New at Beaver Lake Books Our newest clean romance takes readers to the peach orchards of western Colorado, where two people find a way forward together Set among the peach orchards and cattle country beneath Colorado’s Grand Mesa, Blue Road Stand is a clean romance about family, hard work, and learning that accepting help…
• If Silence Is Golden
  by Old Curmudgeon
  If Silence Is Golden, Why Is Everyone So Broke? We have been told for generations that silence is golden. If that is true, the modern world is facing a serious financial crisis. Everyone has an opinion, and thanks to social media, we now have the privilege of hearing every last one of them. People offer…
• I’m Not Old-Fashioned.
  by Old Curmudgeon
  I’m Not Old-Fashioned. I’m Quality-Controlled. People sometimes call me old-fashioned as though they have discovered a character defect. I prefer quality-controlled. Some old things lasted because they were made properly. Some old customs survived because they made life more pleasant. Not everything from the past deserves to return, but neither does everything new deserve a…
• I Tried Skinny-Dipping.
  by R.G. Elliott
  I tried skinny-dipping. It didn’t work. I went into the water looking exactly like myself and came out looking exactly like myself, only wetter. This may be another example of misleading advertising. At least the fish were polite enough not to laugh where I could hear them.
• Progress Was Better Before They Improved It
  by Old Curmudgeon
  Progress Was Better Before They Improved It. I have nothing against progress. Some of my favorite things are the result of progress. Indoor plumbing, air conditioning, and television remote controls come immediately to mind. My complaint is with improvements that make simple things complicated. Once upon a time, you flipped a switch and the light…
• A Procrastinator’s Work Is Never Done
  by R.G. Elliott
  A procrastinator’s work is never done. That’s because we haven’t started it yet. There’s no sense rushing into a job before you’ve had time to think about it, avoid it, reorganize your desk, check the refrigerator, and take a well-earned nap. I’ll explain the rest tomorrow.
• My Favorite Social Network is The Porch
  by Old Curmudgeon
  My favorite social network is the porch. I’ve tried to understand social media. I really have. There are friends you’ve never met, followers who don’t follow you anywhere, and influencers who seem to make a living influencing people to buy things nobody knew they needed. My favorite social network remains the front porch. It doesn’t…
• 4 Out Of 3 People Struggle With Math
  by Old Curmudgeon
  Four out of three people struggle with math. I have always been suspicious of numbers. They look innocent enough until someone puts them into a tax return, a restaurant bill, or the bathroom scale. That’s when they become downright hostile. Fortunately, this statistic proves that I am not alone.
• Women Who Seek to Equal Men Lack Ambition
  by Old Curmudgeon
  Women who seek to equal men lack ambition. Women have spent generations demanding equal treatment, equal opportunity, and equal respect. Fair enough. But I have one question: Why stop at equality? Men have spent centuries starting wars, refusing to ask for directions, and insisting we can repair complicated machinery without reading the instructions. We will…
• I Am Proud To Be An Avid Indoorsman
  by Staff Writer
  I am proud to be an avid indoorsman. I enjoy air-conditioning, comfortable chairs, indoor plumbing, and watching nature documentaries from a safe distance, where I can appreciate the wonders of the wild without actually venturing into it. The allure of the great outdoors holds little appeal for me, as I find true comfort in my…
• Why do psychics have to ask for your name?
  by Old Curmudgeon
  Why do psychics have to ask for your name? I have always been a little suspicious of psychics. If you can see my future, communicate with my departed relatives, and sense the mysterious energy surrounding me, you ought to be able to figure out who made the appointment. Instead, the first thing they ask is,…
• A Waist Is A Terrible Thing To Mind
  by Staff Writer
  A waist is a terrible thing to mind. Mine and I have reached an understanding: I don’t measure it, and it doesn’t complain when I have dessert. At this point in life, I prefer clothing with elastic waistbands and forgiving opinions. Life is too short to spend it arguing with a belt.
• I Don’t Hold Grudges. I Archive Them
  by Old Curmudgeon
  I don’t hold grudges. I archive them. People occasionally accuse me of holding grudges. That is completely inaccurate. Holding a grudge sounds emotional, disorganized, and possibly unhealthy. I archive them. Everything is carefully filed by name, date, offense, witnesses, and whether a sincere apology was ever attempted. I believe in forgiveness. Forgiveness is good for…
• Everyone my age is older than me…
  by R.G. Elliott
  Everyone my age is older than me. I don’t know how it happened, but the people I went to school with have aged terribly. They have gray hair, wrinkles, and stories about their grandchildren. Meanwhile, I remain approximately the same age I was twenty years ago. At least that’s what the fellow in the mirror…
• Is a will defined as a dead giveaway?
  by Admin
  A will is one of the few documents people are anxious to read but not particularly anxious to have take effect. We dress it up with dignified language such as “last will and testament” and “estate planning.” But when you get right down to it, a will is simply a dead giveaway. It is also…
• Without Geometry…
  by R.G. Elliott
  Of course, it also lacks direction, has no angles, and never quite adds up. There’s no telling which way is up, no protractor to measure how far things have gone off course, and absolutely zero acute observations to be found. It’s a flat existence — parallel lines that never meet, circles that go nowhere, and…
• I’m Not Grumpy.
  by Old Curmudgeon
  I’m not grumpy. I’m seasoned. There is a difference between being grumpy and having enough life experience to recognize foolishness before it finishes introducing itself. After a certain age, patience becomes a limited natural resource. I’m not complaining. I’m simply providing the benefit of decades of quality control. Wisdom from the Curmudgeon’s Corner. The Old…
• What Does A Baby Computer Call His Father?
  by R.G. Elliott
  What does a baby computer call his father? Data. Some jokes are carefully programmed for maximum laughter. Others simply show up, press a few buttons, and hope for the best. This one belongs to the second group. A baby computer has a lot to learn. First, it must master its ABCs, which naturally means learning…
• I Only Seem to Get Sick on the Weekends
  by R.G. Elliott
  I only seem to get sick on weekdays. I must have a weekend immune system. My immune system apparently keeps the same schedule I wish I had. It shows up Monday morning, takes one look at the week ahead, and immediately calls in sick. By Tuesday, it is complaining about the workload. On Wednesday, it…
• The Problem With Common Sense
  by Old Curmudgeon
  There was a time when common sense wasn’t considered a superpower. It was just the way folks got through the day. You fixed what was broken, spent less than you earned, told the truth even when it was uncomfortable, and understood that every decision had consequences. Somewhere along the way, common sense became an endangered…
• 101 Family-Safe Icebreakers for Family Reunions
  by Admin
  Family reunions are wonderful…eventually. The first half hour is usually a different story. People arrive at different times. Kids disappear almost immediately. Adults stand around trying to remember names. Someone inevitably asks, “Now remind me…whose boy are you?” A few simple conversation starters can turn those awkward first minutes into laughter and help everyone reconnect…
• New Release: Sunny Days Word Search Brings Summer Fun to Puzzle Lovers Everywhere
  by Staff Writer
  Summer is a season of sunshine, relaxation, vacations, and simple pleasures. Whether you’re sitting on the porch with a glass of iced tea, enjoying a quiet afternoon at the lake, or looking for a screen-free way to unwind, there’s a new puzzle book designed just for you. Beaver Lake Books is pleased to announce the…
• Author Interview: R.G. Elliott Talks Grandpa’s Groaners and the Joy of a Good Eye-Roll
  by Staff Writer
  If you’ve ever heard a joke so wonderfully bad that you couldn’t help but laugh—and groan—then you already understand the charm behind Grandpa’s Groaners and More Grandpa’s Groaners. Today, we’re sitting down with the man behind the mischief, R.G. Elliott, to chat about where these books came from, who they’re for, and what might be…
• Daily Groans: Why Dad Jokes Are the Secret to a Happier Life
  by Staff Writer
  Let’s be honest—dad jokes are gloriously terrible. They’re cheesy, eye-roll-worthy, and often followed by an awkward silence or a groan louder than the joke itself. But here’s the twist: that groan? It’s doing something good for you. Believe it or not, dad jokes may just be a secret weapon for better mental health, stronger family…
• Are Books a Good Christmas Gift? Here’s What the Experts Say
  by Staff Writer
  Every year when Christmas rolls around, the same question pops up: What makes a genuinely good gift? Something thoughtful, personal, lasting — and ideally not overpriced or destined for the re-gift pile. Books check all those boxes, and according to authors, librarians, teachers, and psychologists, they’re one of the best gifts you can give. Let’s…
• Author Spotlight: A.K. Moore Talks About Her Debut Clean Romance, A Matter of Trust
  by Staff Writer
  “It feels surreal.” Beaver Lake Books:A.K., big week for you. Your first novel is officially out in the world. How does it feel? A.K. Moore:Surreal. Exciting. Terrifying. All of it. I’m checking my dashboard like a new parent watching the baby monitor. But mostly I’m grateful to finally share this story. I started working on…
• Five Great Christmas Gifts for Book Readers Under $30
  by Staff Writer
  Finding the perfect gift for the bookworm in your life doesn’t have to mean breaking the bank. Whether they’re into gripping thrillers, heartwarming romance, or expanding their knowledge, there are countless thoughtful and affordable options that can enhance their reading experience. From clever accessories that solve common reader problems to unique literary-themed items, you can…
• The Role of Humor in Business Success 
  by R.G. Elliott
  How Laughter Can Boost Engagement, Creativity, and Brand Loyalty In the fast-paced and often stressful world of business, humor may seem like a luxury or even a distraction. But in reality, humor is an incredibly powerful tool that can drive engagement, foster creativity, and build stronger connections with clients and employees alike. By integrating humor…
• Word Search Puzzles Aren’t Just for Grandma Anymore—Here’s Why
  by R.G. Elliott
  Let’s be real: word search puzzles have gotten a bad rap. Somewhere along the way, they got boxed into the “retirement home boredom buster” category—right next to hard candy and cable knitting. But guess what? Word searches are having a moment, and it’s about time. At Beaver Lake Books, we’re on a mission to bring…
• Meet A.K. Moore: A New Voice in Clean Romance
  by R.G. Elliott
  At Beaver Lake Books, we’re always excited to introduce readers to fresh voices with stories that inspire, entertain, and linger long after the last page. Today, we’re thrilled to welcome A.K. Moore, whose debut novel, A Matter of Trust, has just been released. If you’re a fan of small-town settings, heartfelt romance, and faith-driven storytelling,…
• Can Reading Self-Help Books Really Help?
  by R.G. Elliott
  The Power of New Perspectives One of the biggest advantages of self-help books is the way they give us a fresh lens on familiar problems. Sometimes we get stuck in the same routine or mindset, and hearing an author break down a common challenge in a new way can be eye-opening. A well-written book doesn’t…
• A Matter of Trust
  by R.G. Elliott
  ✨ Love. Trust. Second Chances. ✨ Set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Colorado mountains, A Matter of Trust by A.K. Moore is a clean romance that will sweep you away. New from Beave Lake Books. This heartfelt story is about finding the courage to open your heart again—no matter the risks. 💕 Hashtags:#AMatterOfTrust #AKMooreAuthor…
• 5 Types of Journals That Can Change Your Life
  by R.G. Elliott
  Journaling isn’t just about scribbling your thoughts onto paper. It’s a simple, powerful way to improve mental health, reduce stress, and unlock creativity. Whether you’re looking for a way to reflect on your day, deepen your faith, or set new goals, there’s a journal out there for you. Here are five types of journals that…
• Dino Doodles. Color, Roar, and Explore! Dinosaur Coloring Fun for Young Explorers and Grown-ups, Too!
  by Harper Sage
  Dino Doodles: Color, Roar, and Explore! Dinosaur Coloring Fun for Young Explorers and Grown-ups, too! Get ready to Color, Roar, and Explore with Dino Doodles—the ultimate dinosaur coloring adventure for kids and adults alike! Whether you’re a young explorer or just a kid at heart, this book is packed with 50 unique and whimsical dinosaur illustrations that will spark creativity…
• More Grandpa’s Groaners:
  by R.G. Elliott
  Still The Only Thing Worse Than Dad Jokes (Grandpa’s Groaners: A Collection of Classic Dad Jokes) Get ready to roll your eyes and laugh out loud with More Grandpa’s Groaners, the ultimate dad jokes book! More Grandpa’s Groaners takes off where Grandpa’s Groaners ended. All new jokes. Very few duplicates, but who knows with Dad Jokes. Packed with side-splitting jokes,…
• Last Minute Valentine’s Day Gifts: Amazon Finds for Every Bookworm
  by R.G. Elliott
  Thoughtful and Unique Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas for the Bookworm in Your Life If you’re like me, Valentine’s Day always presents a dilemma. So many people to remember. Partners. Teachers. Kids. Grandkids. So many choices. So many chances to get it wrong. It just occurred to me that Valentine’s Day is the perfect occasion to…
• Patty Lyons’ Knitting Bag of Tricks
  by Anita Elliott
  Over 70 sanity saving hacks for better knitting